“Next, we have the most noble recipient of the Order of the Garter, the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Victoria Cross and the lower grades of Knighthood, the leader of the anti-colonial movement, the bell-ringer of the East India Company, the hero of the Crimean War, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifelong dear friend of literary giants such as Dickens and Great Dumas, a steadfast supporter of scientific luminaries like Faraday and Darwin, having served as assistant under-secretary, deputy under-secretary, and permanent under-secretary in departments of the Home Office and the Navy Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the inaugural Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, the first graduate and most distinguished alumnus of our school. Please welcome Sir Arthur Hastings to deliver a speech on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of London.”
Arthur's gaze swept across the crowd before him, looking at the young faces and murmured, “Agares, what do you think I should say?”
The Red Devil's wraith hovered behind him, saliva almost dribbling from the corner of his mouth, “Look at these ignorant souls; they still worship you as a hero. Why not say something they'd like to hear?”
Arthur took a deep breath and let out a deafening roar, “Oxford is a bunch of whores' bastards!”
“Oh!!!!”
The audience erupted into thunderous applause.
“Cambridge is the same!” he added immediately.
The applause grew even more fervent...
(The protagonist, possessed by a devil, travels through 19th-century Britain in a world without magic)

In 1834, Arthur Hastings, or rather—Knight Bachelor of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, recipient of the Second Class Saint Anna Medal of the Russian Empire, the esteemed Arthur Hastings, Your Excellency.


Although these titles already carry considerable weight, at this time Arthur Hastings was far from being the Cabinet Secretary of the United Kingdom whose power shook the political world, whose mere sneeze could silence Bismarck, arouse suspicion in Napoleon III, and induce a serious illness in Whitehall's corridors.


In a letter from Queen Victoria to her eldest daughter, she could hardly conceal her excitement and joy in expressing her affection for Arthur Hastings: Sir Arthur Hastings was elected as Cabinet Secretary, and Mr. Disraeli became the new Prime Minister! For two people who rose from among the people, this is indeed something to be proud of!


Chapter 1487 - Chapter 242: What Matters Most in the 19th Century? Talent!